Taser sues Linden Labs over Second Life virtual “Tasers”

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Usually if a company releases a new product that has the same name as one already on the market from a competitor; action is taken against them. But what if that name is only being used in a virtual world? Does it matter if people refer to that product using the well-known name? According to Taser it does.{ad}

Linden Labs, owner of the virtual world Second Life has been hit with a lawsuit from Taser International who make those guns that send electrical pulses into your body leaving you incapacitated. The reason for the lawsuit is trademark infringement because Taser believe their name is being used on products sold in the Second Life world.

Taser are also suing a number of trading companies such as VirtualTrade for selling the products within Second Life. They are unhappy about this not only because they feel their name is being misused, but also because the stores selling the products carry pornography therefore damaging the company’s reputation.

For the moment Linden Labs and Taser have not commented further on the lawsuit, but New World Notes has done some more investigating and found the problem relates specifically to the naming of some products for sale in a GTA-style urban area of Second Life known as The Crack Den. Some shop owners within that area have been contacted indirectly by Linden Labs suggesting changing the name of some of their products so they don’t use the word “Taser” anymore.

Matthew’s Opinion
I think Taser’s issue with the products doesn’t stem from the fact people are going around using virtual Taser guns. Instead it looks like the word Taser is being used when describing certain features of bondage gear the virtual inhabitants of Second Life can choose to wear. So you can see why the company might be a little upset to have their name used in that regard.

This is really a very niche set of products though, and one I doubt the vast majority of people would ever hear of if Taser had never mentioned it. But now it has news coverage on multiple sites everyone knows about it which really doesn’t benefit Taser. So niche virtual bondage products are now well-known products that Taser International is paying out money to sue over in a bid to protect its name and reputation. Surely it would have been better not to make a fuss?

Speak Your Mind

Rob

I wonder that, too, Matthew. They can’t possibly have employees who play games working for them, and surely none of those employees have friends or families – let alone any who play games. I’m also sure no company has the wherewithall to think of having employees whose job it is to secure their trademark (like a legal department or anything like that). I’m really stumped, and glad I’m not alone.

professortiki

Taser says: “All of the defendants that sell virtual weaponry like plaintiff’s real ones, under the mark Taser for use in the Second Life programs and grids, also sell adult-only explicit images and scenes and drugs”, according to the complaint. Drugs! Second Life sells drugs! What kind? Geekoin? Nerdhuana? I have a whole different (conspiracy) theory: Taser sues Second Life as part of an attack against the free internet. The empire strikes back.